|
Dear Friends,
October is Archaeology Month in Texas. Around the state, museums and universities host archaeology-related programming. I hope you've found something in your area to get involved with!
| |
Dr. Diana Radillo Rolón and I just got back from the 93rd Texas Archeological Society Conference held on UT Tyler's campus. It was a wonderful conference and a welcome opportunity to see friends and colleagues in person after so long. | |
|
We presented new data from the Hearthstone Project and Diana's post-doctoral research to our peers in Texas Archaeology.
The reason we have any new breakthroughs to share with the world is YOU. Your support of our work at Shumla makes it all possible.
We are well on our way to reaching our goal of raising $200,000 by the end of 2022. Please consider a gift to Shumla and to the preservation of the oldest "books" in North America.
All the best,
Jessica
| |
This month we were pleased to once again bring together our community landowners and agency stewards for our annual Rancher Steward BBQ. | |
|
Each year we recognize one family or agency who has gone above and beyond to partner with us in the preservation of the rock art. This year's awardee was the family of the late Milton Howe and the late Dorothy Knox Howe Houghton of Painted Canyon. Some of the family members, including Milton's widow, Jane Howe, and son, Alex Howe, were able to join us to accept the recognition and the beautiful sculpture made by artist Ken Law.
This year's Rancher Steward BBQ was made extra special by the unveiling of the National Historic Landmark plaque for the Lower Pecos Canyonlands Archeological District. You will be able to view this plaque at Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site. After a six‐year effort, Shumla, with the National Park Service, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, landowners and partners are proud to share this incredible milestone with all of you!
| |
Our annual event is all about community, fun and good food - and this year it was just that! We loved catching up with our partners and Val Verde county area friends. | |
Rancher Steward wouldn't be what it is without a delicious BBQ feast! Thank you to Lacy Finley, Mike Webb, Guadalupe Robles, Rosie Phillips, and Becky Pendergrass for cooking up a BBQ spread to remember. And thank you to Patrick and Amy Zuberbueler's bakery, Betty & Bobby's Cakes, Cookies and Pastries, for providing us with decadent Neiman Marcus Cookies for dessert. | |
|
Jessica attended the opening of the updated John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
The Hall includes a replica wall panel and a projected rendering of Halo Shelter mural. Halo Shelter houses a narrative Pecos River Style mural, currently being investigated through the Hearthstone Project.
The focus of the updated exhibition is not only the past but the present and future of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and is well worth a visit!
Click below to learn more about this exhibit!
| |
What Is the Greatest Piece of Art in Texas?
Top curators weigh in on public displays,
museum pieces, and relics of past civilizations
Written by: Michael Agresta
| "If the story of Texas art starts with these mysterious rock paintings—I’m convinced there’s no greater artwork in the state—it begins from a place of deep cultural importance. Looking around the state at the other candidates for best artwork in Texas, all seem to reflect this vision of art as a central part of being alive, as necessary as food and medicine. Here’s to the next 10,000 years—if our great works can make it that long." | | | |
|
Don't miss your chance to visit the Lower Pecos Canyonlands this fall!
Scroll to see your November Trek options or visit https://shumla.org/shumlatreks/ for all the details.
| |
|
Saturday, November 5
Eagle Nest Canyon (full day) ♦♦♦♦
| |
Saturday, November 5th, we'll start the day with the Eagle Nest Trek where we will hike to Skiles Shelter, Kelley Cave and finally Eagle Cave. The rock art at these sites predominantly consists of Pecos River style rock art with the art in Eagle Cave having recently returned radiocarbon dates between 3350 – 3210 years ago. We will then get a chance to visit the Judge Roy Bean visitor’s center to learn more about Langtry’s history. We'll end the day with a tour of Shumla's headquarters, research facility and laboratory. | |
|
Sunday, November 6th
Mountain Laurel and Shumla Campus (half day) ♦♦♦ 1/2
| |
Sunday, November 6th, we'll start the day at Shumla's Ranch where we will hike down from the uplands, into the canyon and back up the slope into Mountain Laurel site. The most prominent rock art figures include human-like figures with rabbit ear headdresses and wielding weapons. We'll end the day with a tour of Shumla's Harrington Campus facility. | |
|
Saturday, November 19
VV75 and Red Linear Type Site (full day) ♦♦♦♦♦
| |
Saturday, November 19, we will take you to VV75 and the Red Linear Type Site, both situated in Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site. VV75 is an impressive archaeological site containing Pecos River style rock art in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands Archeological District — A National Historic Landmark. Next we will trek to the Red Linear Type Site where you will see dozens of images of red, human-like figures wielding items, like atlatls and many in apparent motion. We'll end the day with a tour of Shumla's headquarters, research facility and laboratory. | |
|
Sunday, November 20
Fate Bell, Fate Bell Annex, and Running Horse (full day) ♦♦♦
| |
Sunday, November 20, we will meet at Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site where we will trek to see the breath-taking rock art at Fate Bell Annex and Fate Bell Shelter. We will then hike out of the canyon and return to the Visitor Center Museum for lunch. Before heading out of the park, we will hike and visit Running Horse. We'll end the day with a tour of Shumla's headquarters, research facility and laboratory. | |
|
Stay tuned!
We will be updating our website with our Spring 2023 Trek schedule soon.
|
| |
|
If you are concerned about your ability to hike
to our Trek locations, reach out!
We will walk you through the whole Trek and help you decide if it's right for you. There are accommodations for some treks. For example, the November 6th trip to Mountain Laurel, Shumla campus is listed as a three and a half diamond trek. But, if you are not a hiker, you can stay at the campus while the rest of the group hikes and enjoy the pristine views, walk the nature trails and have a lovely morning with no need to over-exert yourself.
To talk about a Trek, email treks@shumla.org!
| | |
|
Join Ashley Busby, fine art painter and Shumla collaborator, at our November Lunch & Learn!
Ashley Busby will share her findings on the visual elements that Lower Pecos (LP) artists used to organize space and develop complex works of art. She will discuss the significance of mark making, negative space, and framing elements to LP style compositions. With a focus on Fate Bell and Halo Shelter, this talk will explore how LP artists used a combination of line, color, and form to emphasize relationships between figures and create an active, visual narrative.
| |
Shumla Lunch and Learns are held virtually using
Zoom so anyone anywhere can join us!
| |
|
Stay tuned!
We will be updating our website with our 2023 Lunch & Learn dates soon.
|
| |
|
Join us! You have the power to preserve, protect and share this precious history that belongs to us all! You can give the critical funds we need to achieve our mission to preserve the oldest “books” in North America.
| |
|
Will you take a moment and help us reach our $200,000 fundraising goal by the end of the year? | |
Visit the Lower Pecos by flying with American Airlines to Del Rio, Texas. American Airlines American Eagle flies to Del Rio from DFW Airport in Dallas. Visit www.aa.com to get your ticket today
| |
Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center
P.O. Box 627, Comstock, TX 78837
| |
Shumla eNews is a free eNewsletter published by Shumla.
Copyright © 2022 by Shumla. All Rights Reserved.
| | | | | |
